Electrical connector

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an electrical connector for attachment to the end of an electrical cable. The connector includes a split body having contacts supported thereon for attachment to conductor wires of the cable. The split body accommodates cables of different diameters and is provided with a cable gripping member which can be placed in different positions to engage and hold cables of different diameters with a predetermined force when mating portions of the split body are brought into opposing engagement. When assembled, the connector has no exposed metal parts on the contact-carrying face thereof except for the electrical contacts.

Poliak et al.

v United States Patent [191 Dec. 24, 1974 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR [75]Inventors: John M. Poliak, East Meadow;

Milton .1. Weitzman, Bayside; Juan M. Lopez, New York, all of NY. [73]Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.,

Brooklyn, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 248,030

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 30,143,April 20, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 339/107 [51] Int. Cl. H0lr 13/58 [58] Field of Search339/103, 105, 107, 208

[56] References Cited I I I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,102 12/1924Jackson 339/63 M 1,685,420 9/1928 I-Iigham 339/107 2,043,851 6/1963Grant et a1 339/107 X 2,140,867 12/1938 Wilmot .L 339/105 X 2,669,7012/1954 Brus 2,952,730 9/1960 Simonds 339/107 X 5/1967 Meyer .Q. 339/31 R3,317,880 3,375,481 3/1968 Parnell 339/196 M X 3,390,371 6/1968Kramer.... ......339/l07 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 251,676 5/1926Great Britain 339/103 R Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney,Agent, or F irm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman 57 ABSTRACT This inventionrelates to an electrical connector for attachment to the end of anelectrical cable. The connector includes a split body havingcontactssupported When assembled, the connector has no exposed metalparts on the contact-carrying face thereof except for the electricalcontacts.

23 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR This application is acontinuation of our copending application Ser. No. 30,143, filed Apr.20, 1970, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an electrical connector for attachmentto an end of an electric cord or cable. It relates, more particularly,to a heavy-duty connector for attachment to an electric cable containinga plurality of conductors which is capable of receiving and grippingdifferent sizes of cable without damage or injury to such cables.

One of the principal problems with existing connectors arises fromimproper gripping or clamping of the cable when it is attached to theconnector and the improper clamping of the cable is frequently a sourceof 1 failure and accidents. One reason this is that existing cableclamping devices are designed to engage the cable independently of theconnector as such and the clamping is dependent upon the judgement ofthe person tightening the clamp when installing the cable in theconnector.

An object of the present invention is to overcome this problem byprovidinga connector in which portions of the connector body and acable-gripping device actin conjunction with each other andautomatically establish the desired gripping force which is to beexerted on a cable of a given diameter when parts of the connector bodyare brought into engagement with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector which willaccommodate cables of different diameters while providing the desiredgripping force with which such cables are to be held. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical connectorwhich has no exposed metal parts on the contact-carrying face thereoffor the contact elements themselves.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an electricalconnector which is not readily subject to damage and which forms asubstantially weatherresistant enclosure when attached to an electricalcabIe.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical connectorwhich can be assembled and attached to the end of an electrical cablewithout difficulty or possible damage to the cable.

These and other features of the present invention will be betterunderstood from the following description and the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating various parts ofan electrical connector embodying the invention in conjunction with anend of an electric cable containing three wires;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a contact-carrying insert forming partof the connector shown in FIG. 1 with the end of the cable beingconnected thereto;

FIG. 3 is a side view in vertical section of the connector shown in FIG.1 with certain parts thereof being assembled;

FIG. 4 is an inverted plan view of the upper half of the connector bodyand strain relief as seen from the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lower half of the connector body andcontact-carrying insert as seen from line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3and is drawn to a somewhat enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view along line .77 of 'FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a rear end view in partial section of the partially assembledconnector shown in FIG. 3 with certain parts being omitted for purposesof clarity;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a portion of theconnector'shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 after assembly;

FIG. 10 is a rear end view in partial section of the assembled connectorshown in FIG. 9;

FIG. llis a fragmentary view in vertical section of the connector shownin FIG. 9 when attached to a cable of a large diameter. 7

FIG. 12 is a rear end view in partial section of the connectorshown inFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a section view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in section taken along line 14-14 of FIG.13; v

FIG. 15 is' a fragmentary view in section taken along line 1515 of FIG.14; and

FIG. 16 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating parts of aterminal for connecting bare ends of the wires of the cable to thecontact elements.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is a connector l9 embodyingthe invention. The connector 19includes a split body or shell 20 ofcylindrical shape which has a hollow interior to receive and supportvarious parts-of the connector assembly.

The split body or shell 20 consists of two. parts, an upper part 21 anda lower part 22 which may be molded from nylon or other suitableinsulating material. The two parts 21 and 22 are complementary and haveopposing surfaces 23 and 24 which, respectively, extend along theopposite side edges thereof and when the opposing surfaces are broughtinto mating engagement, a tight closure is formed along the sides of thesplit body.

Spaced interior bosses 25 are formed in the upper part 21 of the bodyand oppose spaced interior bosses 26 formed in'thelower part 22 of thebody when the two-parts of the body are secured together. The bosses 25in the upper part-21 of the body contain screwreceiving openings 25a arealigned with openings 26a in the bosses 26 in the lower part 22 of thebody. The two parts of the body are secured together by screws 27 whichextend through the openings 25a and engage with threaded bushings 28located in the bosses 26 in in vertical section taken the lower part ofthe body. If desired, the bushings 28 may be molded in the bosses 26 andthe screws 27 will be the only metal parts exposed on the exterior ofthe connector other than current-carrying parts with the screws 27 beingremotely located relative to such current-carrying parts.

The split connector body 20 has an opening 29 at its front or forwardend which makes a close fit with the front end of a contact-carryinginsert 30. The opposite or rear end of the connector body 20 also has anopening 31 formed therein to receive the end of an electrical cable 32to which the connector is to be attached.

The. cable-receiving opening 31 at the rear of the body 20 is oval inshape and is defined by flanges 33 and 34 extending inwardly from theupper and lower parts 21 and 22 of the body, The upper or inner end ofthe flange 34 carried by the lower half 22 of the body is displacedinwardly relative to the lower end of the flange 33 carried by the upperhalf 21 of the body.and acts as a cable-gripping member forming part ofa strain-relief (see FIGS. 9 and 11). For this reason, the lower flange34 is made somewhat thicker than the upper flange 33 with its upper endbeing relieved so that the opposing ends of the flanges are offset. Inaddition, the lower flange 34 is of greater height than the upper flange33 to engage with the cable 32. A rib or flange 35 also corresponding inheight to the flange 34 extends inwardly from the lower part 22 of thebody at a point spaced inwardly relative to the end flange 34 and alsoacts as a cable-engaging member forming part of the strain relief.

In the upper part 21 of the split body, a supporting rib 36 extendsinwardly therefrom at a point opposite the space between the end flange34 and the rib 35 carried by the lower part of the body. A reversible H-shaped cable-clamping member 37 straddles the rib 36 and is supportedthereon with the ends of the H-shaped member being in opposing spacedrelation to the flanges 34 and 35 in the lower half of the body.

A connecting bar 37a of the H-shaped member rests on and is supported bythe rib 36 and the legs 37b extend downwardly therefrom in opposingrelation to the rib 35 and the flange 34. The bar 370 is offset inrelation to the length of the legs 37b of the H, and the space betweenthe ends of legs 37b and the opposing ends of the flange 34 and the rib35 may be changed to-accommodate and grip different sizes of cables byreversing the position of the H-shaped member on the supporting rib.This permits the strain-relief or cable-clamping members to engagecables of different diameters with the proper gripping action. Ifdesired, the ends of the legs 37b may be provided with tooth-likeserrations 38 to increase the gripping action.

As will be seen from FIG. 8, the opposing ends of the strain-relief orcable-gripping members define an opening having a generally oval-shapedconfiguration with the dimension along the minor axis thereof being somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the cable 32.

Thus, the cable which is deformable, is compressed be tween the opposingmember and is forced outwardly along the major axis of the oval-shapedopening when the clamping takes place, as shown, for example, in FIGS.and 12. This prevents possible damage to the conductors of the cable.

As'illustrated, the electrical cable 32 has an outer covering 39 ofinsulating material and contains three conductor wires 32a, 32b and 32c,each of which has a covering 39a of insulating material. One of theconductors may serve as ground wire and the size or outer diameter ofthe cable 32 will depend to some extent on the size or gauge of theconductor wires 32a, 32b and 326 used therein.

In the embodiment illustrated, the connector will accommodate cablesvarying from about .296 inches in diameter to about .500 inchesindiameter in one position of the H-shaped member (as shown in FIG. 10)

the cable will be established and exerted to the full extent required bysecuring the two parts of the connector body together with theiropposing side edges in engagement. This eliminates the possibilities ofthere being too great a clamping force which may damage the cable orinsufficient force being exerted on the cable.

The foregoing is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 where the reversibleH-shaped clamping member 37 is positioned to engage with a cable of adiameter A and in FIGS. 11 and 12 where the I-l-shaped clamping member37 is shown in reversed position to engage with a cable of a largerdiameter B. i

To determine the proper position of the I-I-shaped member, opposingfingers 39 extending inwardly from the bosses 25 in the upper half ofthe body (see FIG. 4) may be provided as a gauge. Where the diameter ofthe cable is greater than the spacing between the tingers, the H-shapedclamping member 37 will be set at a position for a large cable and wherethe diameter of the cable is smaller than the space between the gaugefingers, the H-shaped clamping member will be set in a position for asmaller cable.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the end of the cable 32 extends into the splitshell or body and a portion of the outer covering 39 of insulatingmaterial is removed to expose the individual conductor wires 32a, 32band 320. In addition, portions of the insulation 39a are removed fromthe conductors to expose the bare ends thereof. The bare ends of theconductors wires are then connected, respectively, to wiring terminals40 at the inner ends of contact elements 41, 42 and 43.

The contact elements 41, 42 and 43 are supported in spaced relation toeach other on a block 30a of insulating material forming part of thecontact-carrying insert 30. As shown, each of the contact elements 41,42 and 43 has a male contact prong which extends outwardly from the faceor front end of the insert 30 and beyond the end of the connector body.The prongs for contact elements 41 and 42 are in the form of flat bladeswhile the prong for the contact element 43 has a U-shaped configurationwhich is customarily used for a grounding contact. Otherwise, thecontact elements 41, 42 and 43 and the wiring terminals 40 carriedthereby are similar and to avoid repetition, only one of the contactelements and the wiring terminal carried thereby will be described.

It will also be understood that female contacts may be employed in placeof the male prongs of the contact elements 41, 42 and 43 where theconnector is to serve as a receptacle.

Each of the wiring terminals 40 is of a slider type. As shown in FIGS.13-16, the contact element41 has an enlarged upper end 41a with athreaded opening 44 being formed therein. A screw 45 is threaded in theopening 44 and its forward end engaging a leg 46a carried by a sliderelement 46 formed from a conductive.

material. The leg 46a extends in front of the end of screw and isconnected to a lateral arm 46b. The arm 46b extends rearwardly through arecess 4lbin the upper end of the contact element 41 and carries adownwardly extending bifurcated leg 460. The leg 460 V engages with anundercut 45a in the shank of the screw 45. Thus, turning of the screw 45causes the slider element 46 to move with the screw toward or away froma yoke-like retainer 47 of conductive material. The retainer hasrearwardly extending arms 47a which extend where it will be clampedbetween these parts by advancing movement of the screw 45. Such anarrangement avoids the necessity for looping the bar end of theconductor wire around a terminal screw and avoids damage to the wire.

As shown best in FIG. 13, the terminals 40 carried by the contactelements 41, 42 and 43 are located, respectively, in spaced recesses 48formed in the upper or inner face of the supporting block 30a and whichare shaped to receive the terminals 40. The recesses 48 are providedwith side openings 49 through which the headed ends of the screws 45 forthe respective terminals are accessible. The bottoms of the recesses 48contain slotted openings 50 through which the prongs of the contactelements extend. The enlarged upper ends of the contact elements rest onthe bottoms of the recesses and support the contact elements in theblock 30a, as shown for example in FIG. 15.

A cover 51 extends over the top of the insulating block 30a and theupper ends of the contact elements 41, 42 and 43 to hold the contactelements in place. The cover 51 may be secured to the upper end of theinsulating block 30a by means of a drive screw 52 or other suitablefastening means.

The cover 51 contains three spaced openings 53, each of which is alignedwith one of the terminals 40 carried by the contact elements 41, 42 and43 so as to permit the introduction of the bare ends of theconductorwires into position for clamping between slider element 46 and retainer47. To facilitate introduction of the bare ends of the wire, theopenings 53 may be enlarged at their outer ends.

As shown in FIG. 2, the contact-carrying insert 30 is a self-containedunit to which the conductor wires may be easily attached prior to finalassembly of the connector.

To aid in assembly of the conductor, the contactcarrying insert 30 isprovided with locating pins 54 which extend rearwardly from the coveradjacent opposite sides thereof. When the contact-carrying insert 30 isplaced in the lower part 22 of the split body 20, one of the pins 54will engage with a set of opposing resilient spring fingers 55 which areformed on and extend upwardly from the lower part 22 of the split body20. At the same time, a pair of detents 56 will snap into engagementwith the walls of recesses 57 in sides of the contact-carrying insert 30at the forward end thereof so that the insert will be firmly held inplace in the lower part 22 of the split body 20 during further assemblyof the connector. It will be noted that the contact-carrying insert 30has projections 58 extending along opposite sides thereon at pointsspaced rearwardly of its front face. The projections 58 fit intocavities 59 and 60 formed in the inner faces of the upper and lowerhalves 21 and 22 of the split body 20. Shoulders 59a and 60a at theforward ends of the cavities 59 and 60 engage metrical and the insertcan be placed in the lower part 22 of the body 20 with either sidefacing upwardly.

After the contact-carrying insert30 with the cable 32 connected theretohas been placed in the lower part 22 of the split body 20, the upperpart 21 of the split body 20 is then brought into opposing relation tothe lower part 22 with the H-shaped strain-relief member 37 being inproper position to engage with the outer circumference of the cableemployed as described above. The four fastenings screws or bolts 27 arethen threaded into the bushings 28 and the opposing side edges of theupper and lower parts of the split body are brought into firmengagement. This brings'the legs of the H-shaped member 37 and theopposing members 34 and 35 in the lower half of the body into clampingengagement with the exterior of the cable 32. This completes theassembly of the connector and its attachment to the end of a cable.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madeby those skilled in the art in the embodiments of the inventionillustrated and described herein without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In an electrical connector for attachment to the end of an electricalcable, the improvement which comprises: '1

a.,a split body formed of an insulating material;

b. said body being split along its longitudinal axis into twocomplementary parts and having an opening at a rear end thereof toreceive an electrical cable;

c. said two parts of the body having opposing surfaces adapted to bebrought into engagement with each other; t

d. fastening means located along opposite sides of said body forsecuring the two parts of the body together; and

e. strain-relief means carried by and located within said body adjacentthe opening in the rear end thereof for engagement with the cablereceived therein;

f. said relief means exerting a predetermined clamping force on thecable when the two parts of the body are brought intoengagement;wherein:

g. the strain-relief means includes cable-clamping members carried bythe two parts of the split body;

k. said H-shaped member including a bar connecting said legs with saidba'r being offset relative to the ends of the legs.

2. An electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electricalcable, which comprises: a. split body of insulating material;

b. said body having upper and lower parts and opposing surfacesextending along opposite side edges thereof with opening at front andrear ends thereof;

0. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material located within saidbody with a front end of said insert being fitted in the opening at thefront end of the split body;

d. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert;

e. said contact elements having exposed portions on the front end ofsaid insert;

f. a'wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at a rearend of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of an electricalcable thereto;

g. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in therear end thereof for engagement with an electric cable extending intothe body through said rear opening; and

h. means for securing the two parts of the split body together with theopposing side edges thereof being in engagement and with thestrain-relief means being in engagement with the electrical cable;

. said securing means being located along opposite sides of the splitbody and remote from the exposed portions of the contact elements;wherein:

j. said strain-relief means includes a pair of spaced cable-engagingmembers carried by each part of the split body;

said pair of cable-engaging members having spaced opposing surfaces forreception of the cable therebetween;

I. one of said cable-engaging members being an H- shaped member having apair of legs and a bar extending between and connecting said legs at apoint offset relative to a center of said legs;

m. a support formed in one part of the body and engaging with theconnecting bar of said H-shaped member;

n. said H-shaped member being reversible relative to said supportwhereby the opposing surfaces of the cable-engaging members are spacedby different distances in different positions of the H-shaped member onsaid support.

3. An electrical connector as defined in claim 2,

which includes:

a. interengaging members formed on one part of the split body and thecontact-carrying insert for retaining the insert in said one part of thebody during assembly of the connector.

4. An electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electricalcable, which comprises:

a. a split body of insulating material;

b. said body having upper and lower parts and opposing surfacesextending along opposite side edges thereof with opening at front andrear ends thereof;

c. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material located within saidbody with a front end of said insert being fitted in the opening at thefront end of the split body;

d. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert;

e. said contact elements having exposed portions on the front end ofsaid insert;

f. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at a rearend of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of an electricalcable thereto;

g. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in therear end thereof for engagement with an electric cable extending intothe body through said rear opening; and

h. means for securing the two parts of the split body together with theopposing side edges thereof being in engagement and with thestrain-relief means being in engagement with the electrical cable;

i. said securing means being located along opposite sides of the splitbody and remote from the exposed portions of the contact elements;wherein:

j. the contact-carrying insert includes a block of insulating materialfor supporting the spaced contact elements therein;

k. said block containing spaced recesses in a rear end thereof;

I. each of said recesses being shaped to receive an end of one of thecontact elements and the wiring terminal attached thereto;

m. said block also having side openings communicating with said recessesand the wiring terminals therein;

n. a cover attached to and extending over the rear end of said block andthe ends of the contact ele ments;

0. said cover having spaced openings therein aligned with the wiringterminals for the introduction of bare ends of conductor wirestherethrough.

5. An electrical connector as defined in claim 4,

wherein:

a. each of the wiring terminals includes a terminal screw which isaccessible through one of the openings in the block; and

b. a slider element of a conductive material carried by said screw;

c. said slider element being slidably movable into clamping engagementwith a bare end of the conductor wire under pressure exerted thereonbythe screw.

6. In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electricalcable, the improvement which comprises:

a. a split body of insulating material,

b. said body being formed in two parts and having a cable-receivingopening at arear end thereof;

0. a pair of inwardly extending spaced cableclamping members formed in afirst part of the body adjacent said cable-receiving opening;

d. a rib-like support formed in a second part of the body and extendinginwardly therefrom at a point spaced from the cable-receiving opening;and

e. an l-l-shaped cable-clamping member having a connecting bar seated onsaid rib-like support and being reversible relative to said support;

f. said connecting bar extending between a pair of spaced legs and beingoffset relative to the center of said legs; v

g. said legs having ends disposed in opposing spaced relation toopposing ends of the cable engaging members in the first part of thebody;

h. the spacing between the ends of said legs and the ends of theopposing members being different in each of the positions of theH-shaped member on the rib-like support.

7. ln'an electrical connector, the improvement as defined in claim 6wherein:

a. the two parts of the split body having mating faces extending alongopposite sides thereof; and

b. means located on opposite sides of the split body for bringing thetwo parts of the body into engagement with each other and simultaneouslybringing the opposing surfaces of the cable-clamping members intoengagement with the cable;

c. said securing means being located along the sides of the split body.

8. In an electrical connector, the improvement as defined in claim 7wherein:

a. the opening in the rear end of the body is elongated along an axisextending at right angles to the direction in which clamping pressure isapplied to the cable.

9. In an electrical connector for attachment to an insulated cablecontaining a plurality of conductors, the combination comprising:

a. a split body of insulating material;

b. said body being split lengthwise into two complementary parts ofarcuate shape and having a passageway extending therethrough withopenings at front and rear ends thereof;

c. said two parts of the body each carrying a cablegrippin member withopposing surfaces of said members defining an opening at the rear end ofthe body dimensioned to accommodate a range of cable sizes;

d. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material mounted in saidpassageway at the opening in the front end of the body;

e. contacts carried by said insert for connection to each of theconductors contained in the cable;

f. said contacts facing the opening in the front end of the body;

g. terminal means carried by each of said contacts for connecting one ofthe conductors of the cable thereto;

h. said terminal means being located at a rear end of said insert andbeing enclosed by said body;

i. a retainer plate attached to the rear end of the insert and holdingthe contacts in place in the insert;

j. said retainer plate having conductor receiving openings thereinaligned with and providing access to each of said terminal means on thecontacts;

k. fastening means for securing the two parts of the split body togetherenclosing the insert and simultaneously gripping the cable between saidtwo parts of the body;

I. said fastening means being located along opposing side edges of thetwo body parts at spaced points located between the front and rear endsthereof; wherein:

m. each of the terminal means includes a movable slider for clamping abare end of a conductor wire in electrical engagement with the contact;and

n. an adjustment screw for moving said slider into clamping engagementwith the bare end of a conductor wire;

0. said adjustment screws being exposed on vertical sides of the insertfor adjustment of the sliders. 10. In an electrical connector forattachment to an electrical cable, the improvement which comprises:

a. a split body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulatingmaterial;

b. said body being split along its longitudinal axis into twocomplementary parts of arcuate shape defining a passageway extendingbetween openings at the front and rear ends of the body;

c. said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electricalcable containing a plurality of conductors;

d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extendinglengthwise along opposite sides thereof;

e. a pair of opposing cable gripping members carried by said body atsaid opening in the rear end thereof;

f. said cable-clamping members having spaced opposing surfaces whichdefine an opening of predetermined size when the mating side edges ofthe two parts of the body are brought into engagement;

g. fastening means located along the mating side edges of the twocomplementary parts of the split body for securing said parts togetherand simultaneously bringing the opposing surfaces of the clampingmembers into predetermined spaced relation; and

h. a contactcarrying insert held between said two parts of the body andwithin said passageway adjacent the opening in the front end of thebody; wherein:

i. at least one of the cable-clamping members is reversible to differentpositions in one part of the split body with the opposing surfaces ofthe cableclamping members in said different positions definingopenings'for cables of different sizes; and in which:

j. one part of the split body contains an inwardly extending ribadjacentthe opening in the rear end of said body; and

k. the reversible cable-clamping member has an H- shaped configurationhaving a bar connecting spaced legs of said H-shape;

1. said leg being offset relative to ends of said legs and saidl-l-s'haped member being reversibly seated on said rib.

11. In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulatedelectrical cable, the improvement which comprises:

a. a hollow split body formed of an insulating material,

b. said body being split along a longitudinal axis into twocomplementary parts with an opening in a rear end thereof forinsertionof an end of an insulated electrical cable'into the body;

0. said two parts of the body having mating faces on opposite sides ofthe body which close the sides of the body;

d. fastening means located along the opposite sides of the body forsecuring said two parts together with the mating surfaces thereof inengagement; and

e. strain-relief means carriedby and located within the body adjacentthe opening in the rear end thereof;

f. said strain-relief means comprising a cableclamping member carried byeach of the two parts of the split body;

g. said cable clamping members having transverse opposing faces spacedfor deformable engagement with a range of different cable sizes;

h. at least one of said cable-clamping members being movable in one partof the body to different positions relative to the opposing member;

i. said movable cable-clamping member being H- shaped;

j. said H-shaped member having spaced legs with cable-clamping facesformed at opposite ends of said legs;

k. a supporting bar connecting said legs and being offset relative tothe ends thereof;

1. said bar reversible supporting the H-shaped cableclamping member withthe ends of the legs in different spaced relation relative to theopposing faces of the cable-clamping member in the other part of thebody.

12. In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulatedelectrical cable, the combination as defined in claim 11 which includes:

a. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material secured within saidbody at an opening at a front end thereof;

b. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert;

c. each of said contact elements including a portion exposed through theopening in the front end of the body;

d. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at a rearend of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of an electricalcable thereto; and

e. a supporting rib formed in one part of the body;

f. said rib engaging with the connecting bar of the H- shaped member andreversibly supporting the H- shaped member in said one part of the body.

13. ln an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulatedcable, the combination as defined in claim 12, which includes:

a. interengaging means formed on one part of the split body and thecontact-carrying insert for holding said insert in a fixed position insaid one part of the split body during assembly of the two parts of thebody.

14. In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulatedelectrical cable, the combination which comprises:

a. a split body formed of an insulating material;

b. said split body including two halves having mating surfaces closingopposite sides of the body and having openings at a front and a rear endthereof;

c. a contact-carrying insert secured between the two halves of the bodywith a front face of the insert aligned with the opening at the frontend of the body;

(1. said insert comprising a block of insulating material and having aplurality of spaced recesses formed therein;

e. a contact element having an end slidably fitted into each of saidspaced recesses and having an exposed end located at the front face ofsaid block;

f. an enlarged wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elementsand fitting within said recesses;

g. said block having side openings communicating with said wiringterminals;

h. a cover plate attached to a rear face of the block and extending overthe wiring terminals of the contact elements mounted therein;

i. said cover plate containing spaced openings aligned with each of thewiring terminals for introduction of bare ends of conductor wires intoengagement with said terminals;

j. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in therear end thereof for clamping engagement with an end of an insulatedelectric cable connected to the contact elements and extending into thebody through said rear opening; and

k. means on opposite sides of the body for securing the two parts of thesplit body together with the mating surfaces on the side edges thereofin engagement and simultaneously bringing the strain relief means intoclamping engagement with the insulated electrical cable.

15. In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulatedelectrical cable, the combination as' defined in claim 14 wherein:

a. each of the wiring terminals includes a terminal screw carried byeach of the terminals and being accessible through one of the sideopenings in the block of insulating material;

b. a slider of conductive material attached to and movable with saidscrew; and

c. a fixed member attached to the terminal in opposing relation to themovable slider whereby a bare end of a conductor is clamped between theslider and the fixed member under pressure exerted on the slider throughthe terminal screw.

16. in an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulatedcable containing a plurality of conductors, the combination whichcomprises:

a. a hollow body of insulating material;

b. said body being split lengthwise into two complementary parts ofarcuate shape and having a passageway extending therethrough withopenings at a front end and a rear end thereof;

c. said two parts of the body each carrying a cablegripping member;

d. said cable-gripping members having spaced opposed faces defining anopening at the rear end of the body;

e. said faces being spaced to receive and deformably engage with apredetermined range of different cable sizes;

f. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material mounted in saidpassageway at the opening in the front end of the body;

g. contacts carried by said insert for connection to each conductorcontained in a cable with ends of the contacts facing the opening in thefront end of the body;

h. terminal means carried by each of said contacts for connecting one ofthe conductors of the cable thereto;

i. said terminal means being located at a rear end of said insert andbeing enclosed by said body;

j. said terminal means including a movable slider for clamping a bareend of a conductor wire in electrical engagement with the contact;

k. an adjustment screw for moving said slider into clamping engagementwiththe bare end of the conductor wire;

I. said adjustment screws being exposed on vertical sides of the insertfor adjustment of the sliders; m. a retainer plate attached to a rearface of the insert and holding the contacts in the insert;

n. said retainer plate having conductor receiving openings thereinaligned with and providing access to each of the terminal means on thecontacts; and

o. fastening means on opposite sides of the body for securing the twoparts of the body together enclosing the insert and simultaneouslygripping the cable between said cable-gripping members;

p. said fastening means being located at spaced points between theopenings at the front and rear ends of the body.

17. In an electrical-connector for attachment to an end of an insulatedelectrical cable, the improvement which comprises:

a. a split body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulatingmaterial;

b. said body being split along a longitudinal axis into twocomplementary parts of arcuate shape defining a passageway having anopening at a front end and at a rear end thereof;

c. said opening at the rear end of the body being shaped to receive anend of an insulated electrical cable containing a plurality ofconductors;

d. said two parts of the body having mating side faces extendinglengthwise along opposite sides thereof;

e. a pair of opposing cable-gripping members carried by said body atsaid opening in the rear end thereof;

f. said cable-gripping members having spaced opposing surfaces whichdefine an opening of a predetermined size when the mating side faces ofthe two parts of the body are in engagement;

g. one of said cable-gripping members being H- shaped and beingreversibly supported in one of the two parts of the body to defineopenings of different sizes;

h. said H-shaped member having spaced legs connected by a bar offsetrelative to the ends of said legs;

i. an inwardly extending rib carried by said one part of the body;

j. said rib reversibly engaging with and supporting the offset barconnecting the legs of said H-shaped member;

k. fastening means located on opposite sides of the split body forclosing the sides of the body and simultaneously bringing the surfacesof the cablegripping members into said predetermined spaced relationrelative to each other; and

l. a contact-carrying insert held between said two parts of the body andwithin said passageway at the openingin the front end of the body.

18. In an electrical connector for use with different size electricalcables, the improvement which comprises:

a. a hollow body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulatingmaterial;

b. said body having a rear end and a front end and being split along alongitudinal axis into two com- 'plementary parts defining a passagewayincluding an opening at said rear end of the body;

c. said opening at the rear'end being shaped to receive an electricalcable containing a plurality of conductors;

d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extendinglengthwise along opposite sides thereof;

e. a pair of opposing rigid cable clamping members carried by said bodyadjacent said opening in the rear end thereof;

f. each of said cable clamping members having at least twolongitudinally spaced clamping sections respectively opposing theclamping sections of the other opposing clamping member when the matingside edges of the two parts of the body are in engagement; g. seat meansin one of said parts of the split body adjacent the said rear openingthereof for supporting and releasably seating a first of said clampingmembers in a predetermined position; the clamping sections of said otherclamping member having a set of gripping surfaces of a given concaveshape; I i. the said spaced clamping sections of said first clampingmember having a plurality of concavely shaped sets of gripping surfacesand being removable from and replacable in said seat means so that aselected one of said concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces spacedlyopposes the said set of gripping surfaces of the said other clampingmember with unique spacing to define one of a plurality of differentsize openingsfor different size cables; and j. fastening means locatedalong the mating side edges of the two complementary parts of the splitbody for securing said parts together and simultaneously bringing theopposing gripping surfaces of the clamping members into predeterminedspaced relation relative to each other to effect the desired grippingforce for any of said different size cables.

19. The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein said passageway hasan opening at the said front end of the body and which includes:

a. a contact-carrying. insert held between the two parts of the splitbody at the opening in the front end of said body; and

b. electrical contacts carried by said insert whcih are respectivelyconnected to all of the conductors of the cable.

20. An electrical connector as in claim 18 and further including:

means in said split body for gauging the size of an electrical cable tobe used in said connector for determining whichof said concavely shapedsets of gripping surfaces of said one clamping member is to be selectedto oppose the gripping surfaces of the said other clamping member. v

21. An electrical cable clampfor accommodating an insert of either amale plug or female receptacle type and to which an electrical cable isto be attached through said clamp, said insert being of the type havinga front face and an insertable body of predetermined shape extendingrearwardly a given distance with that shape and thereafter beingincreased in size in at least one area and decreased in size in at leasta second area containing connections for said cable, said cable clampcomprising:

a. a hollow split clamp body of generally cylindrical shape formed of aninsulating material;

b. said clamp body being split along its longitudinal axis into twocomplemntary parts defining a passageway extending between openings atthe front and rear ends of the body;

c. said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electricalcable containing a plurality of conductors;

d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extendinglegnthwise along opposite sides thereof;

e. a pair of opposing rigid cable clamping members carried by said clampbody at said opening in the rear end thereof;

f. said cable-clamping members having spaced opposing surfaces whichdefine an opening of predetermined size when the mating side edges ofthe two parts of the clamp body are brought into engagement;

g. said front end opening and passageway being of said predeterminedshape adjacent said front end opening for a predetermined distanceinwardly and having at least one depression rearwardly thereof toaccommodate said one area of increased size of said insert to hold saidinsert in said clamp body when the said mating side edges of the saidtwo parts of the clamp body are brought into engagement;

h. each of said cable-clamping members having at least two spacedclampingsections respectively opposing the clamping sections of theother clamping member when the mating side edges of the two parts of thebody are brought into engagement by said fastening means;

. seat means in one of said parts of the split body adjacent the saidrear opening thereof for supportingly carrying and releasably seating afirst of said clamping members to a predetermined depth;

j. the clamping sections of said other clamping member having a set ofgripping surfaces of a given concave shape;

k. the said clamping sections of said first clamping member having apluraltiy of concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces and beingremovable from and replaceable in said seat means so that a selected oneof said concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces spacedly opposes thesaid set of gripping surfaces of the said other clamping member withunique spacing to define one of a corresponding plurality of differentsize openings for different size cables; and

. fastening means located along the mating side edges of the twocomplementary parts of the split body for securing said parts togetherand simultaneously bringing the selected opposing surfaces of theclamping members into predetermined spaced relation relative to eachother to effect the required gripping force for any of the saiddifferent size cables selected.

22. An electrical connector as in claim 2] and further including:

means in said split body for gauging the size of an electrical cable tobe used in said connector for determining which of said differentconcavely shaped sets of clamping surfaces of said one clamping memberis to be selected to oppose the clamping surfaces of the said otherclamping member.

23. An electrical cable clamp as in claim 21 in combination with saidinsert with said cable clamp and insert having respective cooperatingmeans for releasably holding said insert in proper position in one ofsaid parts of said split clamp body while the other of said partsthereof is placed onto said one part and fastened thereto by saidfastening means.

1. In an electrical connector for attachment to the end of an electricalcable, the improvement which comprises: a. a split body formed of aninsulating material; b. said body being split along its longitudinalaxis into two complementary parts and having an opening at a rear endthereof to receive an electrical cable; c. said tWo parts of the bodyhaving opposing surfaces adapted to be brought into engagement with eachother; d. fastening means located along opposite sides of said body forsecuring the two parts of the body together; and e. strain-relief meanscarried by and located within said body adjacent the opening in the rearend thereof for engagement with the cable received therein; f. saidrelief means exerting a predetermined clamping force on the cable whenthe two parts of the body are brought into engagement; wherein: g. thestrain-relief means includes cable-clamping members carried by the twoparts of the split body; h. said cable-clamping members having opposingspaced surfaces for receiving and clamping a cable therebetween; i. atleast one of said clamping members is capable of being placed indifferent positions in one part of the body with the spacing between theclamping surfaces of said members being different in each of saiddifferent positions; and wherein: j. said one cable clamping member hasan H-shape having legs with clamping surfaces at the ends thereof; k.said H-shaped member including a bar connecting said legs with said barbeing offset relative to the ends of the legs.
 2. An electricalconnector for attachment to an end of an electrical cable, whichcomprises: a. split body of insulating material; b. said body havingupper and lower parts and opposing surfaces extending along oppositeside edges thereof with opening at front and rear ends thereof; c. acontact-carrying insert of insulating material located within said bodywith a front end of said insert being fitted in the opening at the frontend of the split body; d. a plurality of spaced contact elements carriedby said insert; e. said contact elements having exposed portions on thefront end of said insert; f. a wiring terminal carried by each of saidcontact elements at a rear end of said insert for connection of aconductor wire of an electrical cable thereto; g. strain-relief meanscarried by the split body at the opening in the rear end thereof forengagement with an electric cable extending into the body through saidrear opening; and h. means for securing the two parts of the split bodytogether with the opposing side edges thereof being in engagement andwith the strain-relief means being in engagement with the electricalcable; i. said securing means being located along opposite sides of thesplit body and remote from the exposed portions of the contact elements;wherein: j. said strain-relief means includes a pair of spacedcable-engaging members carried by each part of the split body; k. saidpair of cable-engaging members having spaced opposing surfaces forreception of the cable therebetween; l. one of said cable-engagingmembers being an H-shaped member having a pair of legs and a barextending between and connecting said legs at a point offset relative toa center of said legs; m. a support formed in one part of the body andengaging with the connecting bar of said H-shaped member; n. saidH-shaped member being reversible relative to said support whereby theopposing surfaces of the cable-engaging members are spaced by differentdistances in different positions of the H-shaped member on said support.3. An electrical connector as defined in claim 2, which includes: a.interengaging members formed on one part of the split body and thecontact-carrying insert for retaining the insert in said one part of thebody during assembly of the connector.
 4. An electrical connector forattachment to an end of an electrical cable, which comprises: a. a splitbody of insulating material; b. said body having upper and lower partsand opposing surfaces extending along opposite side edges thereof withopening at front and rear ends thereof; c. a contact-carrying insert ofinsulating material located within said body with a front end of saidinsert being fiTted in the opening at the front end of the split body;d. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert; e.said contact elements having exposed portions on the front end of saidinsert; f. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements ata rear end of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of anelectrical cable thereto; g. strain-relief means carried by the splitbody at the opening in the rear end thereof for engagement with anelectric cable extending into the body through said rear opening; and h.means for securing the two parts of the split body together with theopposing side edges thereof being in engagement and with thestrain-relief means being in engagement with the electrical cable; i.said securing means being located along opposite sides of the split bodyand remote from the exposed portions of the contact elements; wherein:j. the contact-carrying insert includes a block of insulating materialfor supporting the spaced contact elements therein; k. said blockcontaining spaced recesses in a rear end thereof; l. each of saidrecesses being shaped to receive an end of one of the contact elementsand the wiring terminal attached thereto; m. said block also having sideopenings communicating with said recesses and the wiring terminalstherein; n. a cover attached to and extending over the rear end of saidblock and the ends of the contact elements; o. said cover having spacedopenings therein aligned with the wiring terminals for the introductionof bare ends of conductor wires therethrough.
 5. An electrical connectoras defined in claim 4, wherein: a. each of the wiring terminals includesa terminal screw which is accessible through one of the openings in theblock; and b. a slider element of a conductive material carried by saidscrew; c. said slider element being slidably movable into clampingengagement with a bare end of the conductor wire under pressure exertedthereon by the screw.
 6. In an electrical connector for attachment to anend of an electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a splitbody of insulating material, b. said body being formed in two parts andhaving a cable-receiving opening at a rear end thereof; c. a pair ofinwardly extending spaced cable-clamping members formed in a first partof the body adjacent said cable-receiving opening; d. a rib-like supportformed in a second part of the body and extending inwardly therefrom ata point spaced from the cable-receiving opening; and e. an H-shapedcable-clamping member having a connecting bar seated on said rib-likesupport and being reversible relative to said support; f. saidconnecting bar extending between a pair of spaced legs and being offsetrelative to the center of said legs; g. said legs having ends disposedin opposing spaced relation to opposing ends of the cable-engagingmembers in the first part of the body; h. the spacing between the endsof said legs and the ends of the opposing members being different ineach of the positions of the H-shaped member on the rib-like support. 7.In an electrical connector, the improvement as defined in claim 6wherein: a. the two parts of the split body having mating facesextending along opposite sides thereof; and b. means located on oppositesides of the split body for bringing the two parts of the body intoengagement with each other and simultaneously bringing the opposingsurfaces of the cable-clamping members into engagement with the cable;c. said securing means being located along the sides of the split body.8. In an electrical connector, the improvement as defined in claim 7wherein: a. the opening in the rear end of the body is elongated alongan axis extending at right angles to the direction in which clampingpressure is applied to the cable.
 9. In an electrical connector forattachment to an insulated cable containing a Plurality of conductors,the combination comprising: a. a split body of insulating material; b.said body being split lengthwise into two complementary parts of arcuateshape and having a passageway extending therethrough with openings atfront and rear ends thereof; c. said two parts of the body each carryinga cable-grippin member with opposing surfaces of said members definingan opening at the rear end of the body dimensioned to accommodate arange of cable sizes; d. a contact-carrying insert of insulatingmaterial mounted in said passageway at the opening in the front end ofthe body; e. contacts carried by said insert for connection to each ofthe conductors contained in the cable; f. said contacts facing theopening in the front end of the body; g. terminal means carried by eachof said contacts for connecting one of the conductors of the cablethereto; h. said terminal means being located at a rear end of saidinsert and being enclosed by said body; i. a retainer plate attached tothe rear end of the insert and holding the contacts in place in theinsert; j. said retainer plate having conductor receiving openingstherein aligned with and providing access to each of said terminal meanson the contacts; k. fastening means for securing the two parts of thesplit body together enclosing the insert and simultaneously gripping thecable between said two parts of the body; l. said fastening means beinglocated along opposing side edges of the two body parts at spaced pointslocated between the front and rear ends thereof; wherein: m. each of theterminal means includes a movable slider for clamping a bare end of aconductor wire in electrical engagement with the contact; and n. anadjustment screw for moving said slider into clamping engagement withthe bare end of a conductor wire; o. said adjustment screws beingexposed on vertical sides of the insert for adjustment of the sliders.10. In an electrical connector for attachment to an electrical cable,the improvement which comprises: a. a split body of generallycylindrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said body beingsplit along its longitudinal axis into two complementary parts ofarcuate shape defining a passageway extending between openings at thefront and rear ends of the body; c. said opening at the rear end beingshaped to receive an electrical cable containing a plurality ofconductors; d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edgesextending lengthwise along opposite sides thereof; e. a pair of opposingcable gripping members carried by said body at said opening in the rearend thereof; f. said cable-clamping members having spaced opposingsurfaces which define an opening of predetermined size when the matingside edges of the two parts of the body are brought into engagement; g.fastening means located along the mating side edges of the twocomplementary parts of the split body for securing said parts togetherand simultaneously bringing the opposing surfaces of the clampingmembers into predetermined spaced relation; and h. a contact-carryinginsert held between said two parts of the body and within saidpassageway adjacent the opening in the front end of the body; wherein:i. at least one of the cable-clamping members is reversible to differentpositions in one part of the split body with the opposing surfaces ofthe cable-clamping members in said different positions defining openingsfor cables of different sizes; and in which: j. one part of the splitbody contains an inwardly extending rib adjacent the opening in the rearend of said body; and k. the reversible cable-clamping member has anH-shaped configuration having a bar connecting spaced legs of saidH-shape; l. said leg being offset relative to ends of said legs and saidH-shaped member being reversibly seated on said rib.
 11. In anelectrical connector for attachmeNt to an end of an insulated electricalcable, the improvement which comprises: a. a hollow split body formed ofan insulating material, b. said body being split along a longitudinalaxis into two complementary parts with an opening in a rear end thereoffor insertion of an end of an insulated electrical cable into the body;c. said two parts of the body having mating faces on opposite sides ofthe body which close the sides of the body; d. fastening means locatedalong the opposite sides of the body for securing said two partstogether with the mating surfaces thereof in engagement; and e.strain-relief means carried by and located within the body adjacent theopening in the rear end thereof; f. said strain-relief means comprisinga cable-clamping member carried by each of the two parts of the splitbody; g. said cable clamping members having transverse opposing facesspaced for deformable engagement with a range of different cable sizes;h. at least one of said cable-clamping members being movable in one partof the body to different positions relative to the opposing member; i.said movable cable-clamping member being H-shaped; j. said H-shapedmember having spaced legs with cable-clamping faces formed at oppositeends of said legs; k. a supporting bar connecting said legs and beingoffset relative to the ends thereof; l. said bar reversible supportingthe H-shaped cable-clamping member with the ends of the legs indifferent spaced relation relative to the opposing faces of thecable-clamping member in the other part of the body.
 12. In anelectrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated electricalcable, the combination as defined in claim 11 which includes: a. acontact-carrying insert of insulating material secured within said bodyat an opening at a front end thereof; b. a plurality of spaced contactelements carried by said insert; c. each of said contact elementsincluding a portion exposed through the opening in the front end of thebody; d. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at arear end of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of anelectrical cable thereto; and e. a supporting rib formed in one part ofthe body; f. said rib engaging with the connecting bar of the H-shapedmember and reversibly supporting the H-shaped member in said one part ofthe body.
 13. In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of aninsulated cable, the combination as defined in claim 12, which includes:a. interengaging means formed on one part of the split body and thecontact-carrying insert for holding said insert in a fixed position insaid one part of the split body during assembly of the two parts of thebody.
 14. In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of aninsulated electrical cable, the combination which comprises: a. a splitbody formed of an insulating material; b. said split body including twohalves having mating surfaces closing opposite sides of the body andhaving openings at a front and a rear end thereof; c. a contact-carryinginsert secured between the two halves of the body with a front face ofthe insert aligned with the opening at the front end of the body; d.said insert comprising a block of insulating material and having aplurality of spaced recesses formed therein; e. a contact element havingan end slidably fitted into each of said spaced recesses and having anexposed end located at the front face of said block; f. an enlargedwiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements and fittingwithin said recesses; g. said block having side openings communicatingwith said wiring terminals; h. a cover plate attached to a rear face ofthe block and extending over the wiring terminals of the contactelements mounted therein; i. said cover plate containing spaced openingsaligned with each of the wiring terminals for introduction of bare Endsof conductor wires into engagement with said terminals; j. strain-reliefmeans carried by the split body at the opening in the rear end thereoffor clamping engagement with an end of an insulated electric cableconnected to the contact elements and extending into the body throughsaid rear opening; and k. means on opposite sides of the body forsecuring the two parts of the split body together with the matingsurfaces on the side edges thereof in engagement and simultaneouslybringing the strain relief means into clamping engagement with theinsulated electrical cable.
 15. In an electrical connector forattachment to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the combinationas defined in claim 14 wherein: a. each of the wiring terminals includesa terminal screw carried by each of the terminals and being accessiblethrough one of the side openings in the block of insulating material; b.a slider of conductive material attached to and movable with said screw;and c. a fixed member attached to the terminal in opposing relation tothe movable slider whereby a bare end of a conductor is clamped betweenthe slider and the fixed member under pressure exerted on the sliderthrough the terminal screw.
 16. In an electrical connector forattachment to an end of an insulated cable containing a plurality ofconductors, the combination which comprises: a. a hollow body ofinsulating material; b. said body being split lengthwise into twocomplementary parts of arcuate shape and having a passageway extendingtherethrough with openings at a front end and a rear end thereof; c.said two parts of the body each carrying a cable-gripping member; d.said cable-gripping members having spaced opposed faces defining anopening at the rear end of the body; e. said faces being spaced toreceive and deformably engage with a predetermined range of differentcable sizes; f. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material mountedin said passageway at the opening in the front end of the body; g.contacts carried by said insert for connection to each conductorcontained in a cable with ends of the contacts facing the opening in thefront end of the body; h. terminal means carried by each of saidcontacts for connecting one of the conductors of the cable thereto; i.said terminal means being located at a rear end of said insert and beingenclosed by said body; j. said terminal means including a movable sliderfor clamping a bare end of a conductor wire in electrical engagementwith the contact; k. an adjustment screw for moving said slider intoclamping engagement with the bare end of the conductor wire; l. saidadjustment screws being exposed on vertical sides of the insert foradjustment of the sliders; m. a retainer plate attached to a rear faceof the insert and holding the contacts in the insert; n. said retainerplate having conductor receiving openings therein aligned with andproviding access to each of the terminal means on the contacts; and o.fastening means on opposite sides of the body for securing the two partsof the body together enclosing the insert and simultaneously grippingthe cable between said cable-gripping members; p. said fastening meansbeing located at spaced points between the openings at the front andrear ends of the body.
 17. In an electrical connector for attachment toan end of an insulated electrical cable, the improvement whichcomprises: a. a split body of generally cylindrical shape formed of aninsulating material; b. said body being split along a longitudinal axisinto two complementary parts of arcuate shape defining a passagewayhaving an opening at a front end and at a rear end thereof; c. saidopening at the rear end of the body being shaped to receive an end of aninsulated electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. saidtwo parts of the body having mating side faces extending lengthwisealong opposite sIdes thereof; e. a pair of opposing cable-grippingmembers carried by said body at said opening in the rear end thereof; f.said cable-gripping members having spaced opposing surfaces which definean opening of a predetermined size when the mating side faces of the twoparts of the body are in engagement; g. one of said cable-grippingmembers being H-shaped and being reversibly supported in one of the twoparts of the body to define openings of different sizes; h. saidH-shaped member having spaced legs connected by a bar offset relative tothe ends of said legs; i. an inwardly extending rib carried by said onepart of the body; j. said rib reversibly engaging with and supportingthe offset bar connecting the legs of said H-shaped member; k. fasteningmeans located on opposite sides of the split body for closing the sidesof the body and simultaneously bringing the surfaces of thecable-gripping members into said predetermined spaced relation relativeto each other; and l. a contact-carrying insert held between said twoparts of the body and within said passageway at the opening in the frontend of the body.
 18. In an electrical connector for use with differentsize electrical cables, the improvement which comprises: a. a hollowbody of generally cylinrical shape formed of an insulating material; b.said body having a rear end and a front end and being split along alongitudinal axis into two complementary parts defining a passagewayincluding an opening at said rear end of the body; c. said opening atthe rear end being shaped to receive an electrical cable containing aplurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the split body havingmating side edges extending lengthwise along opposite sides thereof; e.a pair of opposing rigid cable clamping members carried by said bodyadjacent said opening in the rear end thereof; f. each of said cableclamping members having at least two longitudinally spaced clampingsections respectively opposing the clamping sections of the otheropposing clamping member when the mating side edges of the two parts ofthe body are in engagement; g. seat means in one of said parts of thesplit body adjacent the said rear opening thereof for supporting andreleasably seating a first of said clamping members in a predeterminedposition; h. the clamping sections of said other clamping member havinga set of gripping surfaces of a given concave shape; i. the said spacedclamping sections of said first clamping member having a plurality ofconcavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces and being removable from andreplacable in said seat means so that a selected one of said concavelyshaped sets of gripping surfaces spacedly opposes the said set ofgripping surfaces of the said other clamping member with unique spacingto define one of a plurality of different size openings for differentsize cables; and j. fastening means located along the mating side edgesof the two complementary parts of the split body for securing said partstogether and simultaneously bringing the opposing gripping surfaces ofthe clamping members into predetermined spaced relation relative to eachother to effect the desired gripping force for any of said differentsize cables.
 19. The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein saidpassageway has an opening at the said front end of the body and whichincludes: a. a contact-carrying insert held between the two parts of thesplit body at the opening in the front end of said body; and b.electrical contacts carried by said insert whcih are respectivelyconnected to all of the conductors of the cable.
 20. An electricalconnector as in claim 18 and further including: means in said split bodyfor gauging the size of an electrical cable to be used in said connectorfor determining which of said concavely shaped sets of gripping surfacesof said one clamping member is to be selected to oppose the grippingsurfaces oF the said other clamping member.
 21. An electrical cableclamp for accommodating an insert of either a male plug or femalereceptacle type and to which an electrical cable is to be attachedthrough said clamp, said insert being of the type having a front faceand an insertable body of predetermined shape extending rearwardly agiven distance with that shape and thereafter being increased in size inat least one area and decreased in size in at least a second areacontaining connections for said cable, said cable clamp comprising: a. ahollow split clamp body of generally cylindrical shape formed of aninsulating material; b. said clamp body being split along itslongitudinal axis into two complemntary parts defining a passagewayextending between openings at the front and rear ends of the body; c.said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electrical cablecontaining a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the splitbody having mating side edges extending legnthwise along opposite sidesthereof; e. a pair of opposing rigid cable clamping members carried bysaid clamp body at said opening in the rear end thereof; f. saidcable-clamping members having spaced opposing surfaces which define anopening of predetermined size when the mating side edges of the twoparts of the clamp body are brought into engagement; g. said front endopening and passageway being of said predetermined shape adjacent saidfront end opening for a predetermined distance inwardly and having atleast one depression rearwardly thereof to accommodate said one area ofincreased size of said insert to hold said insert in said clamp bodywhen the said mating side edges of the said two parts of the clamp bodyare brought into engagement; h. each of said cable-clamping membershaving at least two spaced clamping sections respectively opposing theclamping sections of the other clamping member when the mating sideedges of the two parts of the body are brought into engagement by saidfastening means; i. seat means in one of said parts of the split bodyadjacent the said rear opening thereof for supportingly carrying andreleasably seating a first of said clamping members to a predetermineddepth; j. the clamping sections of said other clamping member having aset of gripping surfaces of a given concave shape; k. the said clampingsections of said first clamping member having a pluraltiy of concavelyshaped sets of gripping surfaces and being removable from andreplaceable in said seat means so that a selected one of said concavelyshaped sets of gripping surfaces spacedly opposes the said set ofgripping surfaces of the said other clamping member with unique spacingto define one of a corresponding plurality of different size openingsfor different size cables; and l. fastening means located along themating side edges of the two complementary parts of the split body forsecuring said parts together and simultaneously bringing the selectedopposing surfaces of the clamping members into predetermined spacedrelation relative to each other to effect the required gripping forcefor any of the said different size cables selected.
 22. An electricalconnector as in claim 21 and further including: means in said split bodyfor gauging the size of an electrical cable to be used in said connectorfor determining which of said different concavely shaped sets ofclamping surfaces of said one clamping member is to be selected tooppose the clamping surfaces of the said other clamping member.
 23. Anelectrical cable clamp as in claim 21 in combination with said insertwith said cable clamp and insert having respective cooperating means forreleasably holding said insert in proper position in one of said partsof said split clamp body while the other of said parts thereof is placedonto said one part and fastened thereto by said fastening means.